J.R. Smith Thinks Knicks Have Best Shooting Guard Mix
Opening their media day on Monday in Greenburgh, the New York Knicks are a hot topic of conversation this NBA season via Carmelo Anthony, Phil Jackson, Derek Fisher, the triangle offense, etc.
Shooting guard J.R. Smith enters camp healthy and prepared to adopt a new system and culture. He feels the Knicks have a specific advantage over the rest of the league in the shooting guard department, via Fred Kerber of the New York Post:
I think there’s not a team in this league that has what we have at the shooting guard spot, and that’s very unique. Some people look at it as ‘You’ve got to treat it as one or two of them.’ I don’t think you should look at it like that. I think you should look at it as a dynamic trio like people do with running backs in football.
On his relationship with Iman Shumpert,
I don’t look at it as a rivalry. If I don’t push him and he doesn’t push me, then we’re both wasting our time.
Smith added that the Knicks “can hit people from three totally different angles” at the position, of course referring to himself, Iman Shumpert, and second-year guard Tim Hardaway Jr. While Smith may have a point, the Knicks’ shooting guard minutes will likely weigh heavily in the favor of who can best adapt to the concepts of the triangle. Otherwise it’s simply important for each player to execute their particular role when called upon. Utilizing the depth at the position would certainly be helpful for the Knicks to bounce back from a 37-45 season.
